# US 2020/0286701 A1 · Lever Switch Mounted on a Vehicle

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- Number: US 2020/0286701 A1
- Document ID: US20200286701A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/725,741
- Filed: 2019-12-23
- Published: 2020-09-10
- Earliest claimed: 2019-03-07
- Assignees: Toyo Denso Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyo Denso Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Masayuki IWANAMI; Takatoshi Komatsu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200286701A1

## CPC

- H01H 21/22: Operating parts, e.g. handle
- B60Q 1/1469: {controlled by or attached to a single lever, e.g. steering column stalk switches}
- H01H 3/50: with indexing or locating means, e.g. indexing by ball and spring
- H01H 21/04: Cases; Covers
- H01H 2021/225: {with push-pull operation, e.g. which can be pivoted in both directions by pushing or pulling on the same extremity of the operating member}
- H01H 2215/00: Tactile feedback
- H01H 2215/03: Sound
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A lever switch which is capable of preventing loud operating noise from being generated during stepwise operation of an operating lever. The lever switch has a case, a click feeling generator placed inside the case, and a switch moving body placed inside the case and rotated with respect to the case by operating the operating lever. The click feeling generator has trough portions that abut against a convex portion of the switch moving body. Click feelings are given by the convex portion of the switch moving body sequentially abutting against the trough portions in response to stepwise operations of the operating lever. The convex portion of the switch moving body is urged toward the click feeling generator. The click feeling generator and the case are placed away from each other with a space left between them in a direction in which the first case is urged.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lever switch comprising:
a case;
a click feeling generator configured to be placed inside the case; and
a switch moving body configured to be placed inside the case and rotated with respect to the case by operating an operating lever,
wherein the click feeling generator has a plurality of trough portions that abut against an end of the switch moving body,
click feelings are given by the end of the switch moving body sequentially abutting against the trough portions in response to stepwise operations of the operating lever,
the end of the switch moving body is urged toward the click feeling generator, and
the click feeling generator and the case are placed away from each other with a space left therebetween at least in a direction in which the end is urged.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lever switch according to claim 1, wherein in the space, a wall portion is interposed between the click feeling generator and the case.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lever switch according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the wall portion comes into contact with the click feeling generator to support the click feeling generator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lever switch according to claim 1, wherein the click feeling generator is comprised of an elastic body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The lever switch according to claim 4, wherein the elastic body is formed of elastomer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The lever switch according to claim 1, wherein the click feeling generator comprises a cantilever-shaped projecting piece, and when the operating lever rotates, the projecting piece abuts against a part of the switch moving body other than the end thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The lever switch according to claim 6, wherein the projecting piece comprises a projection that projects toward the case, and when the projecting piece is caused to become warped by the part of the switch moving body other than the end thereof abutting against the projecting piece due to the rotation of the operating lever, the projection abuts against the case first.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The lever switch according to claim 1, wherein the lever switch is a wiper switch.